“Operation Linebacker”

The Texas Border Sheriff’s Coalition reportedly unveiled a plan on Friday to increase the number of deputies and equipment in the sheriffs’ offices of El Paso, Texas, and 15 other Texas counties near the border. The additional resources are intended to support an effort that is being promoted as a “second line of security” to back up the efforts of the U.S. Border Patrol.

An article from the El Paso Times indicates that local government officials are seeking a large infusion of federal funds to support the initiative. That article can be found at: http://www.elpasotimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050917/NEWS/509170330/1001.

The plan provides yet another example of the conflation of immigration and crime control efforts. The implications of this fact are not explored in the El Paso Times article, but are worth contemplating.
-jmc